Circlip On A/C Pulley

[Limestone]

The A/C pulley bearing sounds like bag of rocks in a dryer. So I got a replacement pulley with bearing already, compressor clutch and coil.

I skimmed through the FSM and watched a video, read some forum posts.

I got the compressor clutch off easily. I can not for the life of me figure out how to get at the snap ring holding the pulley on. Everything I've read or seen simply says "take the snap ring off". Ok, but how? I can only see it in a mirror so everything is reversed and recessed into the pulley. When I can get 1 side of the snap ring pliers in a hole (I think because I can't see what I'm doing) I can't seem to locate the other side of the snap right with the pliers? When I try to just pry off the spring clip, It just pushes around in a circle. So how do you get this thing out? What's the technique?

I hate working on anything with a spring. It always sucks.

 

[macleanflood]

I think I used a couple of picks.

-Mac

 

[Limestone]

I think I used a couple of picks.

-Mac

I was thinking about grinding down a smaller flat blade screw driver to try and get under the clip. The picks I have I can't seem to get enough leverage on.

 

[Limestone]

I think I used a couple of picks.

-Mac

I ended up trying several different picks to get the prick off and found 1 that seemed to work the best. A little smaller but with a good handle to get good leverage on.

This has turned into a brutal job. Pulley is stuck on, while prying on it I managed to snap piece off the outer edge of the PS pulley (which I had just replaced). So I'll be making more prying room by removing that...

 

[Limestone]

If someone ever stumbles onto this thread looking for help, I found what worked the best were a medium sized pair of snap right pliers with straight tips. I stood at the drivers front corner snaked my right arm under washer fluid bucket and gripped the pliers over hand. To get the snap ring off, just keep trying to get the tips some purchase on something in there.To get the snap ring back on, same thing only add some tape to the tips so the snap right stays right on the tips. Try again and again and again. Eventually it should seat.